Saints boss Pochettino lets slip that Fulham have signed Holtby on loan... as Spurs midfielder arrives for medical

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino took the unusual step of announcing that Fulham have signed Lewis Holtby from Tottenham.

It is no secret that Holtby wanted to leave White Hart Lane and Sportsmail understands the Germany midfielder had a medical at Fulham on Thursday ahead of a proposed loan move to the end of the season.

But it was the Saints boss, whose side face Fulham on Saturday, who made the revelation in Thursday afternoon's press conference.

WATCH Scroll down to see Holtby freestyling as a Schalke player

London switch: Sportsmail understands Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby has had his medical at Fulham

Whoops: Mauricio Pochettino let slip at his press conference today that Fulham had signed Holtby

'It's going to be a tough game against Fulham,' Pochettino said.

'They've made a lot of changes a lot of signings. They've just signed Lewis Holtby from Tottenham.

'They're going to be very aggressive on their own pitch. They'll be very much wanting to get the three points from us.'

Fulham have so far denied a transfer is near completion but an announcement is expected soon.

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Holtby only joined Spurs a year ago, completing a cut-price move from Schalke days before the January 2013 transfer window closed after a Bosman free had already been agreed.

The 23-year-old has three caps for Germany but has struggled to hold down a regular first-team place at Tottenham.